Look, I am a bred and born Monarchist. Came the time when I was old enough for self-determination and sufficient intellectual rigour to consider the options, I still chose to adhere.
Sometimes, it is hard. I have no idea if Southron readers of the DT were exposed to the photo spread of our beloved Duke of Rothesay with which we were regaled up here north of the Wall today. This is the only photo that I could find on-line.
Says it all really. The rest of the family were out shooting grouse (or grice or possibly grouses). The Prince of Hearts, as T Blair would undoubtedly have styled him had Chaz been the one to die in that tunnel, was out photo-opportuning. The proper Royals were providing valuable income for the local community, be they beaters or pluckers. He was wandering lonely as a total loony. Added to which, he was ripping up innocent mushrooms without any thought for their feelings.
Doesn’t alter the fact that he is my future King and that I blame myself. I should have been there for him when he hitched up with Di. I was not. Long story but I was in Calais. I still worry that that might have been what started the rot.
Wasn’t there for Wills and Kate either, as it happens. France again. As part of the trip, we bought a couple of cases of mixed clarets. We flew back to Caledonia and our friends from the south undertook to drive said cases back to the UK for us and to deliver them to Embra next time they were passing.
Which they did last Tuesday. The toast, with a glass of perfectly acceptable 2004 Chateau Bel Air Graves de Vayres in my hand, is ‘Her Majesty the Queen. Long may she reign.’
As long as possible and until Wills is ready. Please?
Hi Bearsy
Writing in a mainly neuter language and commenting as a mainly neutral observer (slight preference for the Proteas thanks to uxorial SA rellies) a fair result indeed and a most enjoyable game. Well-deserved man of the match award for Shane Watson. The 49 from 46 was majestic and his bowling was pretty tidy as well.
Looking forward to the Test Match pair of games. I agree with both Soutie and you that it is an absolute nonsense that there’s only going to be two games in the alleged ‘series’.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Not many will disagree with you I’m sure!
Queen Zara gets my republican vote!
Despite his being “The Prince of Wales” the motion is hereby seconded.
Why does everyone have a problem with Charlie? I don’t. I think it is about time the British Crown sat on the head of an eccentric (again!).
As a staunch monarchist who has had the misfortune of living in republics, I second Boadicea. Prince Charles is more open now than he would be as king, he knows that as soon as the crown rests on his head he has to keep his gigantic gob shut. It is his right to be king and, should he still be alive when the Queen sadly meets the inevitable end of life, the difficulty in changing the line of secession in all 16 realms would not be worth the short reign that he would have. He’s already nearing 70 and his health is not as strong as his mother’s or fathers. He would likely be another Edward VII, if he even lasted that long.
JM, I am shcoked! That a staunch monarchist such as your goodself should cast doubt on the succession in this cavalier (or is it roundhead?) fashion! As you may have inferred from my earlier posts, I am not altogether content with the PoW’s interpretation of his duties but surely a mushroom farm is his natural habitat? 🙂
JM, the style and nature of this post are not what I would have expected from you.
Perhaps Charles may break the mould of Princes who achieve Kingship later in life, but I don’t hold out much hope. However, I did enjoy that programme on ‘The Regency Period’ last night with less focus on the wilder activities of a dissolute Prince and King.
PS – I caught the tail end of a programme on Radio 4 about the Scottish Navy, with particular reference to Admiral Gordon – we Sassenachs know so little about Scottish history, other than the Sir Walter Scott version.
I daresay these pictures were taken without permission, either by the press or by locals who no longer respect the rule of privacy. It used to be that Charles could roam the Westminster Estate in Sutherland and be given total respect and courtesy from the locals. JM, yes this “shot” would win a “Spot the Loony” prize from a Glaswegian wit but equally wouldn’t be out a of place in ‘Farmer’s Word’ or any agricultural or country magazine. And so I think you are being a bit mean. Sure, Charlie boy may not conform to most peoples view of a future King but has he ever had a chance to be who he is? Suppose Charles ll had been photographed up the royal oak (when hiding) – imagine the press having a riot on that one!.
Whadya sayin’ Hugh?
A man can’t go out in the woods and forage for a few shrooms? I missed that addition to the Countryside Act.
A perfectly normal and enjoyable pastime, leave the poor beggar alone.
If he were out shooting, he’d be pilloried. But he’s out gathering mushrooms, so he gets pilloried. Leave the man alone – he’s on holiday. A French taxi-driver told me that we Scots do not appreciate the great variety of mushrooms in our country, so HRH is trying to remedy that. I just hope he knows what he’s picking.
Hee Hee Sheona,
Isn’t that what the royal tasters are for. 🙂
Boadicea, I think the problem is that he is eccentric in the same way as Al Gore is eccentric, i.e. damn dangerous, and just about as much in touch with reality. It will probably finish off the monarchy if he is ever crowned.
I don’t really have a problem with him going mushrooming, but it does not bode well if he is starting to act as a bit of a loner.
Anyway, he has plenty of trees to talk to in the photo!
Hey, Furry! It woz JM, not me! 🙂
Buggrit!!!!!
My humblest apologies Janus. My bad old fruit. I am so used to you or backside having a pop at ol’ Chazza that I leapt to a conclusion.
OI! Jay EM,
‘es only picking a few funghi, leave the poor gibbering wingnut alone. 🙂
Ooh, I love a grovelling mustelid! Up the fungi-foragers! 🙂
‘Evenin JM. If you haven’t already done so, read Jeremy Paxman’s excellent ‘On Royalty’, the very basic conclusions of which (and with which I happen to agree) were:-
1) The Queen takes her duties very seriously and would never abdicate.
2) If she became incapacitated, the POW would assume the role of Regent.
3) Despite the 1936 crisis It would now be constitutionally difficult, not to say unsettling for PoW to abdicate.
OZ
I have to disagree with you, FEEG. Al Gore is not eccentric. He has simply picked on the tree-hugging method as a way of earning cash and keeping his name in the headlines. You don’t think he really believes all that stuff?
If HRH wants to spend his hols talking to trees and gathering mushrooms, fine by me.
Oz, Jeremy Paxman? By what authority does he rule out Charlie being passed over for king, in favour of Wills? Or even better, in favour of Anne.
Right then. Back on the Internet again despite the best endeavours of young Alfie.
https://charioteers.org/2011/08/16/whats-it-all-about/
It would seem that it is quite difficult to unlearn relatively young dogs old tricks and he has chewed us out of the cyberworld for a second time.
Anyhow, thanks for all the comments on my post and thanks also to whoever ‘mored’ it.
On perusing and considering my post, I find myself guilty of preemptive lèse majesté*. He is a harmless old buffoon and I will be perfectly content when he ascends the throne as King Philip I, Arthur I or George VII. My bet is on the George because even he is not loopy enough to go with Charles III.
If truth be told, however, were we back in the good old bad old days when the death of a monarch often led to dynastic struggle and civil war, I would be marching in the columns of the Princess Royal who is still the best man for the job, in my opinion
My apologies if my post offended anybody. Off to judge a photo competition and to deliver my verdict (Alfie permitting).
* grave and acute accents produced courtesy of Bearsy and my guru, Ferret.
Not wanting to sound really stoopid, but why not Charles III?